PostScript
It is now a week since our return. Whereas India was Exciting, Colourful and extremely hot, here in the UK it is cold, wet and very very grey. Wish i was back over there.
I hate English winters!!
An Englishman in a Familiar land.
This is my last full day in the Punjab. We travel back to Delhi in the morning and fly out out the following day. As I write I am sitting on the balcony of my fathers house overlooking acres and acres of land. The sun is beaming down and again, and as per every day [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (11)
I had a relaxing day in the Hotel today. The women were busy shopping and so I decided to venture out of the hotel compound and go for a little stroll.
I made sure I had the taken all the precautions, shades on, baseball cap on, Mosquito spray on. I walked past the multitudes of people, [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (10)
Days 6 and 7 were very busy indeed. As a result I have not had very much time to spend on my blog.
Day 6 and was spent visiting my wife’s family. One particular aunty remained in my thoughts. She was as elderly lady whose husband and only son had died in quick succession leaving only [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (9)
Day 5 was a busy and thought provoking day.
Whereas my father’s family are landowners and clearly not short of a bob or two, my Mother’s family are very poor. She has three sisters and one surviving brother, each living in poverty. The itinerary for today was to visit each one and pay our respects. I, [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (8)
Day 4. Temperature 36 degrees. As we drove from the train station to the family home, it soon became apparent that the traffic in the Punjab is just as manic and suicidal as it is in Delhi. And in some instances it is even worse.
We had booked in to the Raddison hotel situated in the centre [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (7)
The last day in Delhi and we left the hotel early to reach the train station by 7am. Even at this early time the roads were bustling with traffic and a 30 minute journey took 45 minutes.
As the coach pulled up in the car park, assuming it could be called a car park, we were [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (6)
The second day in Delhi and we made an early start for the journey to the Taj Mahal. I had been warned that on the way we would pass through the old Delhi and to be prepared for the extent of the poverty I will see.
Within five minutes we were passing makeshift huts constructed from [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (4)
One hour and fourty five minutes before takeoff and I’m sitting in the departure lounge, terminal 3 Heathrow airport. We have checked in, offloaded the suitcases and passed through the security barrier. Anything metallic had to be removed and placed on a tray. Including my belt.
Security is understandably tight, especially with the ever present threat from Islamic [...]
An Englishman in a strange land (3)
The final night here in the UK before i fly out and i’ve just finished watching ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. An Oscar Winning film from my favourite Director Danny Boyle. The film centres around the plight of three poor orphans as they struggle to survive in the harsh reality of modern day India.
The film is billed as [...]